Cheering Censorship at Va. Tech

Finally, Maryland fans and Hokies fans can sympathize with each other. After all the pounding Maryland fans have taken over "Rock and Roll, Part II" nonsense, they'll surely side with the Va. Tech kids who are now being told they cannot chant "Stick It In" at football games, due to the complaints about this being "disgusting and revolting." AD Jim Weaver said he receives 8-12 complaints about the cheer annually, no doubt from the same folks who call the PGA to complain if a player accidentally sneezes on his lie.

Naturally, the college paper is editorializing to bring back the cheer. The Roanoke Times reports that other schools (including Navy!) also use a variation of the cheer, and that more than 3,500 people have joined a Facebook group in support of Sticking it In. (Make that about 5,000 as of this morning.) My feeling about collegiate crowds: throwing batteries at opposing players/fans is bad. Public conflagrations are probably somewhat of a public safety risk. Human waste should never be deployed as a cheering device. But do college administrators need to go out of their way to make sure that 18-22 year olds never behave in a manner that might have some mildly offensive overtones to older folks whose eyes and ears will be sullied by the mere hint of pelvic gyrations? I think they do not. I mean, seriously, find something more important to worry about.

(A letter to Virginia Tech Magazine from Jan Kohler Davis: "I was appalled by the new "stick it in" cheer and sexually explicit (i.e., hip-thrusting) movements made by the Marching Virginians, Tech cheerleaders, and Tech dancers. This behavior is offensive and a poor reflection on the Hokies, even more so when broadcast on national television. Would you send your daughter to any other institution that condoned such behavior?)

(A response, from a fan named Jim Bragg: "This is college--let's have some fun at athletics events as long as no one is harmed."

banned booing (this year, i understand)
banned playing football (throwing it around) during tailgating
banned the 'na-na-nana, hey-hey-hey, goodbye' song
no live music at tailgates
and the infamous sugar cookie fiasco.. ;-)

now the go-go inspired drumbeat of 'Stick-It-In' is gone. damn him!!!

next thing will be no jumping during enter the sandman cuz you could be blocking the view of someone behind you

As a (relatively) recent, Terp alum, I am always instilled with pride that the current students have found a way to, collectively continue "Rock and Roll Part II." As anyone will know, "collectively" is key, as Terp students are notoriously horrible at doing the same cheer at the same time. Good luck to VT with their cheer!!

We'll see how well we can do this without the band giving us the rhythm this Saturday.

Lane Stadium is known for giving the Hokies a strong competitive advantage through the volume of its fans. We make so much noise because the band coordinates cheers we want to participate in, not because we are so pleased with how respectful we can be.

I am not arguing against Weaver's "Hokie Respect" campaign. I'm all for anything that makes us look less like Philadelphia fans. But this is the kind of thing that sucks the fun right out of football games.

What they don't seem to understand is that killing the fun of Hokie football now means less donations in years to come. Alumni support and football success are certainly connected when it comes to VT. Ask anyone who buys season tickets how much they had to "donate" before they we allowed access to purchase their season tickets and parking pass.

Its par for the course at Virginia Tech, speaking as an alumni. They sell "gobbler noise makers" in the football stadium but you cant "bring them into the stands." You can't bring signs. You can't do anything. When I go to games now and stand, people behind me tap me on the shoulder and ask me to sit down. The wine and cheese crowd is no longer at UNC---sitting on our hands and smiling at the opposition in Blacksburg, VA.